Bulb holder for flashlights



June 22, 1937. e. c. FULLMER BULB HOLDER FOR FLASHLIGHTS Filed Dec. 13,1935 w 2 0 6 \iw? z 1 ".7 EEE;

INVENTOR C? I zzmn/ ATTO R N EY S,

Patented June 22, 1937 STATES PATENT OFFICE Giles C. Fullmer,Bridgeport, Conn.,'assignor to The Bridgeport Metal Goods ManufacturingCompany, Bridgeport, Connecticut Conn., a corporation ofApplication'December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,190

. 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lightingdevices and has particular relation to a bulb holder for flash lights.

An object of the invention is to provide a bulb holder for flash lightsand which serves to hold a bulb straight and prevents it from gettingloose and rattling.

Another object is to provide a holder particularly adapted for holdingso called cats eye bulbs, and. in which the top or outer portion of theholder provides or comprises a reflector.

A further object is to provide 'a'bulb holder comprising a pair of partsto clampingly hold a bulb without the use of the usual threads on thebase of the bulb, and which holder is adapted to be threaded into aflash light casing to mount the bulb therein.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein there is shown satisfactory embodiments ofthe invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details shown but includes all such variations andmodifications as 5 fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a completeflashlight of the so called pen light type, with 30 portions broken awayto show the manner of mounting the bulb and also showing the switch;Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showingthe improved holder;

.Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the holder 35 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly difierentconstruction; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view with parts broken away showing theholder of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing a tubular metal flash light casing isgenerally designated Ill and the same is provided with a clip H wherebyit is adapted to be carried and secured in a pocket or the like in amanner similar to that of a fountain pen. The casing contains a batteryl2 and in one end portion a switch l3 particularly shown and describedin Abbotts Patent No. 1,919,024 of July 18, 1933. Into the other end ofthe casing there is inserted or fitted my improved holder l4 supportinga bulb 15.

The bulb i5 is of the new type known as a cat's eye bulb, and comprisesa screw threaded base I6 from the outer end of which projects the centercontact ll of the bulb. Globe portion 55 [8 of the bulb is somewhattapered and is quite small at its outer end in which is a small lens 9.In flash lights as heretofore constructed the base of the bulb isordinarily threaded into a stem like portion of a reflector of drawnsheet metal of thin gauge, and due to the thin metal and the fact thethread is rolled in this thin metal the bulb may not be securely held,and further is not always held straight since the stem portion of thereflector may be easily bent relative to the body portion thereof.

According to the present invention the bulb is clamped in and supportedby a holder which is not drawn to a diameter to have the bulb threadedinto it, and in the present instance the threads on the bulb base arenot used in securing the bulb in place. The holder is of a diameter tofit into the flash light casing without the latter being drawn in orhaving its diameter reduced. Such holder comprises a two partconstruction and the bulb is held by being clamped between said parts.As the description proceeds it will become clear that the holder maytake a variety of forms but two of which are shown in the drawing.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the holder [4 comprising the front and rear partsl9 and 20. Each may be of sheet metal and have screw threads rolled orpressed into its side walls whereby the rear part may be threaded intothe front part to detachably connect the parts, and whereby the completeholder may be threaded into the end of the casing l0. Each part includesan end wall, although since part l9 tapers toward its forward end itswall 2| is of small area. Part 20 being substantially straight acrossits inner end its wall 22 is of appreciable area.

End wall 22 is provided centrally with an opening 23 of a diameter topermit of the passage therethrough of the insulation 24 and the centercontact I! of the bulb. However, the hole 23 is of less diameter thanthe threaded portion of the bulb base l6 so that the said metal base orscrew contact is engaged by the end wall 20a of part 20 about theopening 23 whereby to ground the bulb base and to assist in mounting thebulb as will later appear.

Part l9 has its end wall provided with an opening and the material ofthe part about the opening inclines inwardly as shown at 25 whereby tohave the outer surface of said portion form a reflector. Also, thisportion 25 has its inner edge defining the diameter of the opening inthe end of the part l9, and such opening is of less diameter than theglobe portion of the bulb. Therefore when the parts l9 and 20 areassembled about a bulb the inner edge of the reflector part 20 and tohave the globe portion ofv the outer of said partshaving an externalscrew bulb partly enter the opening on part IS. The parts are screwedtogether until the globe portion of the bulb is pressed against theinner edg'e of the reflector portion 25 while the base of the bulb is inengagement with the end wall portion 20a. of part 20 about the opening23. Obviously with such construction the bulb is clamped between theparts but may be replaced on separation of the parts by unscrewing them.

After a bulb is mounted in the holder it is securely held without anystrain on the bulb and without threading the bulb into place. With thebulb in the holder the latter is threaded into the end of the casing tobring the center contact of the bulb into engagement with the centercontact of the battery as shown in Fig. 1.- For coopera- .tion with thethreads of the holder a thread 26 is rolled into the casing I adjacentthe end thereof. A shoulder 27 on the holder limits the distance thelatter may be threaded into the casing. 7

When the bulb and battery are in the casing as in Fig. l, on pressinginwardly on the button 28 the spring 29 engages the exposed end of thebattery closing a circuit through the battery and bulb to energize thelatter. A disc of insulating material 30 is held against the battery bya spring 3| and the battery is thus held in a forward position tomaintain its center contact in engagement with the center contact I! ofthe bulb. The washer 30 may move or, float between the beads 32 wherebyto accommodate batteries of slightly different lengths.

Figs. 4 and'5 show a two part holder 33 the forward portion 34 of whichis of a shape contrasting with that of the forward part I9 of the holderof Figs. 1, 2 and 3. However, holder 33 includes the inner or rearportion 20 previously described. Part 34 beyond its screw threadedportion is enlarged, but in its forward end wall is provided with anopening 35 into which the bulb l partly enters. A portion of thematerial of the part about the opening 35 is directed inwardly providinga flange 36 the surface of which may be a reflector as in the firstform, and the inner edge of which engages the bulb l5 as shown. The bulbis clamped in the holder 33 as in the holder l4, and the holders areused in the same manner.

The forward portion of the holder It may be ornamented by fluting asshown in Fig. 3. However, it will be understood that the forwardportions of the holders may be ornamented or decorated to suit varioustastes and may be colored or otherwise treated as desired. Further,where a portion, as the portion, 25 of holder M or 36 of holder 33 is toprovide a reflecting surface it and plated if desired. Having thus setforth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

' 1. In a bulb holder for a flash light, a pair of parts adapted to bedetachably connected, the

thread for threading into the casing of a flash light, one of said partshaving an opening of less diameter than a bulb whereby the portion ofthe part about the opening engages the globe porwill be apparent thatsuch surface will be polished tion of the bulb and light from the lattermay pass through the opening, and the other of said 'parts having anopening for the passage therethrough of the center contact of the bulbbase and having its portion about said opening engaging the bulb base toground the same and whereby the bulb is clamped between the two parts ofthe holder.

2. A bulb holder comprising a pair of hollow detachably connected partsenclosing a bulb and respectively engaging the globe and base portionsof the bulb to clampingly support the latter, and said part engaging theglobe portion of the bulb having an opening therein for the passage oflight and having its portion about the, opening inclining inwardly andproviding a reflector.

3. A bulb holder for a flash light comprising a pair of detachablyconnected hollow telescoping parts each including an end wall, saidholder adapted to be disposed in an end portion of a flash light casing,one of said parts having an opening in its end wall for the passage oflight and having its portion about said opening arranged to engage theglobe portion of a bulb, and the other of said parts having an openingin its end wall for the passage of the center contact of the bulb baseand having its portion about theopening engaging the bulb base to groundthe same and whereby the bulb isclamped between the end walls of theholder.

4. In a device of the character described two cupped members havingtelescoping threaded side walls, the end walls of said members eachhavin an opening therein, and a light bulb having its glass end seatedin one opening and its center contact extending through the otheropening with the base contact engaging said end wall and groundedthereon.

5. A bulb holder for a flash light comprising a pair of hollowdetachably connected members, one of said members having a shoulder ofless diameter than the globe portion of a bulb to engage the sam'e, theother member having an end wall to engage the end of the bulb base toretain the globe portion of the bulb against said shoulder, said endwall of the second member also having an opening for the extensiontherethrough of the center contact of the bulb, one of said membershaving an opening for the passage of light from said bulb, and means forsecuring said members to a flash light casing.

6. A bulb holder for a flash light comprising two hollow members havingtelescoping threaded engagement, one of said members having a shoulderto engage the globe of a bulb, the other member having an end wall toengage the end of the bulb base to retain the bulb against saidshoulder, said end wall also having an opening for passage therethroughof the center contact of the bulb, one of said members having an openingfor the passage of light from said bulb, and one of said members havingan external screw thread for threading into a flash light casing.

7. A bulb holder adapted to be removably fitted to an end of a flashlightcasing, said holder comprising a pair of detachably connected partsrespectively engaging the globe and base portions of a bulb andclampingly supporting the latter --between them; one of said partshaving an openholder comprising two (fl pped members having telescopingthreaded side walls, the end walls of said members each having'anopening, and a light bulb having its glass end seated in one opening andits base seated against the other end wall with its center contactextending through the opening therein, and said holder adapted to bethreaded to a threaded portion of a flash light casing.

9. A holder for a flash light bulb including a base having a shoulderand a center contact at one end, comprising a pair of hollow detachablyconnected members, one of said members having an annular shoulder ofless diameter than the globe portion of the bulb to engage the same, theother member having an end wall to engage the shoulder of the bulb baseto retain the globe portion of the bulb against said shoulder of thefirst member, and means for securing said members in a flash lightcasing.

- GILES C. FULLMER.

